Latched-in magnetic switch



Feb. 20, 1945. F. c. IGLEHART LATCHED- IN MAGNETIC SWITCH Filed July 51,1942 INVENTOR Ferdinand Gfg/e/mrzt WITNESSES:

BY M? E,

ATTORN EY Patented Feb. 20, 1945 LATCHED-IN MAGNETIC SWITCH Ferdinand C.Iglehart, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric &Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application July 31, 1942, Serial No. 453,063

Claims.

This invention relates to a latched-in ma netic switch and, moreparticularly, to an improved form of electromagnetic device foroperating electric switches and like equipment having an operating partmovable back and forth between operative and inoperative positions.

Equipment of the character referred to, such as electric switches andlike devices, having an operating member movable back and forth betweentwo positions is commonly provided with a resilient or gravitationalbias for moving the operating member to one of its positions, usuallythe inoperative position, and an electromagnet for moving the operatingmember to the other of its positions, usually the operative position. Inorder to hold the operating member in its operative position againstmovement under its bias to its inoperative position without thenecessity of maintaining the electromagnet energized, it is customary toprovide a latch for holding the operating member in its operativeposition upon movement thereof to such position. However, suchconstructions have heretofore had the common disadvantage of requiringtwo electromagnets or at least two armatures, the second electromagnet.or armature being required to trip the latch for releasing the operatingmember for movement under its bias to its inoperative position.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide an improvedelectromagnetic device in which a single armature is effective to bothmove the operating member of an electric switch or like device to itsoperative position and to trip a latch for releasing such member formovement from such position.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electromagneticdevice in which a first actuation thereof is effective to move anoperating member to a latched-in position, and in which a secondactuation of the armature is effective to unlatch and release suchoperating member for movement out of its operative position.

A further object is to provide an improved form of electromagneticdevice in which the armature, operating member, latch, and latchtripping mechanism are all'contained within a small space positionedcentrally of the energizing coil of the magnet.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma study of the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of an electromagnet constructed inaccordance with the principles of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line11-11 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, a part thereof being omitted, takensubstantially along the line III-III of Fig. 2.

Figs, 4, 5, and 6 are views similar to Fig. 3, respectively showing therelative positions of the operating parts during sequential operation ofthe electromagnet.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an operating member employed in thestructure of the preceding figures.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the armature shown in the precedingfigures; and

Fig. 9 is an end view of the armature shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawing, the electromagnet is indicated as a whole bythe numeral I and comprises a magnet frame 2 having a rectangularopening for the reception of a coil 3. An armature 4. serving as thedriving member of the device, is positioned centrally of the coil 3 byguides 5 and 6 formed of non-magnetic material which operate to guidethe movement of the armature 4 with respect to the coil 3 in a mannerwell known in the art. The construction and operation of the parts thusfar referred to are well known in the art and per se form no part ofthis invention, this invention involving features to be hereinafterreferred to.

The novel features of this invention lie in the construction of thearmature 4 and the arrangement of an operating member I, a control orlifting member .8, and a latch 8 with respect to the armature 4.

As best shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the armature 4 is provided with a groovel0 extending longitudinally thereof and a groove H extendingtransversely thereof. The groove I0 is provided with a slot 10a at thebottom thereof adapted to receive the back edge H of the operatingmember I. The operating member 'I is formed of non-magnetic material andis movable independently of the armature. 4 in a manner to be described.The engagement of the slot 10a with the edge l2 serves to guide themovement of the operating member I with respect to the armature 4. Atransverse groove II is provided in order that a pin l3 may be securedat its ends to the guides 5 and 8 without interfering with limitedvertical movement of the armature 4. A similar pin Ha is provided forlimting upward movement of the armature 4, the pin l3 limiting downwardmovement of the armature 4. Upward movement of the armature 4 is alsolimited by the top side of the magnet frame 2. The pin l3 pivotallysupports the latch 9, and a spring l4 having one end connected to thelatch S and its other end connected to the guide 5 is provided forbiasing the latch 9 in a clockwise direction toward latching position.

The control orli'fting member 8 comprises angularly positioned portions15 and I6 and is mounted on the base I! of the groove 10, as best shownin Fig. 9, by a pin I8 and spring 19. The spring l9 serves to maintainthe part IS in engagement with the base 11 of the slot I with theportion l extending angularly outwardly from the base I].

The operating member I is provided with a coupling member formed of anL-shaped lug 20 which projects from member 1 for cooperation with thecontrol or lifting member 8 and the latch 9 in a manner to be described.The mem-- her I is provided with a slot H in order that verticalmovement thereof may be had without interference from the pin l3extending transversely between the armature guides 5 and 6.

The electromagnet I is preferably mounted in a position as shown inFigs. 2 through 6-, and in such position, it will be noted that theforce of gravity provides a bias for moving both the armature 4 andoperating member I to their lower limits of travel as limited by the pinl3, and as shown in Fig. 3. The upper limit of travel of the operatingmember I is limited by engagement of the same pin l3 with the lower edge22 of the slot 2| (Figs. 4'and 7).

The operating member I. is adapted to be secured to an operating part ofan electric switch or other similar piece of equipment adapted to bemoved back and forth between operative and inoperative positions. Inthis respect, it will be apparent that the resilient or gravitationalbias of the contact member i an electric switch tending to move thecontact member to its inoperative oropen position will add to the biastending to move the operating member I to its lower position, as shownin Fig. 3.

The operation of the parts thus far described is as follows: With theelectromagnet i in its inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 3, it willbe noted that both the armature 4 and operating member I are in theirlowermost position. Upon energization of the coil 3 to actuate and'movelug 20. As upward movement is continued, the

lifting member 8 will move clockwise, compressing the spring l9 untilthe end of the member I5 is seated within the angular portion of the lug20. Thereafter, continued upward movement of the armature 4 will impartsimilar upward move ment to theoperating member 1 against its bias untilthe parts are moved to the position, as shown in Fig, 4;, and as limitedby the pins l3 and 13a. As soon as upward movement of the armature 4 andoperating member i is stopped by the pins l3 and 53a. the spring is willfunction to rotate the latch 9 clockwise to a position with the latchingportion 23 thereof positioned underneath the lug 20.

Upon deenergization of the coil 3, the armature 4 will drop, but due tothe engagement of the part 23 with the leg 26, the operating meanher iwill be held i its upper position against movement under its bias. Asthe armature 4 falls to its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 5, thespring I9 will function to move the lifting member 8 counterclockwiseuntil the end 15 thereof is positioned underneath the notch .24 on thelatch 9, as shown in Fig. 5.

Upon subsequent energization of the coil 3, the end portion 15 of thelifting member 8 will engage in the notch 24 on the latch 9, and upwardmovement of the armature 4 will rotate the latch 9 counterclockwise tothe position shown in Fig. 6. This action disengages the latch portion23 from the lug 2n and releases the operating memher 1 for movementunder its bias to its lowermost or inoperative position. In connectionwith movement of the member I to its lowermost position, it will beparticularly noted that such motion takes place without the necessity offirst deenergizing the coil 3, the member I as pointed out above beingmade of non-magnetic mate rial. Thereafter, upon deenergization of thecoil 3, the lifting member 8 will move to a Position underneath the lug20, as shown in Fig. 2, and the parts will be in position for anotheroperating cycle.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that there is provided a novelform of electromagnet for operating an electric switch or similarequipment having a part movable back and forth between operative andinoperative positions. The operating member 1 may be readily connectedto the operating parts of the switch or other type of equipment, and theprovision of the lifting member 8 and lug 2G enables a first actuationof the armature 4 to move the member I upwardly to its operativeposition, in which position the latch 9 becomes effective for latchingthe member 1 in such position. The second actuation of the same armature4 through the lifting memher 8 is effective to release the member I formovement under its bias to its inoperative position immediately andwithout the necessity of first deenergizing the magnetic circuit for thearmature 4. By the provision of the operating member I, lifting member8, and latch 9, it will be apparent that the electromagnet of thisinvention accomplishes that which has previously required twoelectromagnets or at least two armatures. It will further be noted thatthe particular arrangement of the parts I, 8, and 8 with respect to thearmature 4 enables all of the essential operating parts to be mountedcompactly in a small space positioned centrally of the energizing coilfor the magnetic circuit.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction, anddifferent embodiments of the invention may be made without departingfrom the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in theabove description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limitinz sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electromagnetic device comprising, in combination, a non-magneticoperating member reciprocable between two positions along a rectilinearpath and biased towards one of said positions, latch means for holdingsaid member in said other position, a magnetically operable armaturereciprocable in parallel to said path and biased towards said oneposition, coupling means forming part of said memher to be entrained bysaid armature when ,the latter is operated against its bias, and

control means movably attached to said armature and biased towardsengagement with said coupling means and latch means respectivelydepending upon whether said operating member is in said one and saidother position respectively so as to release said latch means andcoupling means upon subsequent operation ofsaid armature against itsbias to permit said member to move under its bias independently of saidarmature.

2. An electromagnetic device comprising, in

combination, a non-magnetic operating member reciprocable between twopositions and biased towards one of said positions, said member having acam shaped projection, a latch having a stationary pivot and beingarranged to engage said projection for holding said member in said otherposition, a, magnetically operable armature reciprocable along the pathof said member and biased towards said one position, an elementresiliently attached to-said armature for engaging said projection so asto entrain said member when said armature is operated against its biasand for engaging said latch so as to release said projection uponsubsequent operation of said armature against its bias, whereby. saidmember upon release of said latch is permitted to move under its biasindependently of said armature.

3. An electromagnetic device comprising, in

combination, a non-magnetic operating member reciprocable between twopositions along a rectilinear path and biased towards one of saidpositions, a, latch having a stationary pivot and being arranged toengage said member for holding it in said other position, a magneticallyoperable armature reciprocable in parallel to said path and biasedtowards said one position, an element resiliently attached to saidarmature tor entraining' said member when said armature is operatedagainst its bias and for engaging said latch so as to release saidmember upon subsequent operation of said armature against its bias inorder to permit the released member to move under its biasindependentlyof said armature.

4. An electromagnetic device comprising, in combination, an operatingmember and an electrically operable driving member reciprocable betweentwo positions along substantially parallel paths and independentlybiased in the same direction, latch means for holding said operatingmember in the position opposite said direction, coupling means forcausing said driving member to entrain said operating member when saiddriving member is operated against its bias,

and control means movably mounted on said driving member and biasedtowards engagementwith said coupling means and latch means respectivelydepending upon whether said operating member is in said one and saidother position respectively so as to release said latch means andcoupling -means upon subsequent operation of said driving member againstits bias to permit said operating member to move in said directionindependently of said driving member.

5. An electromagnetic device comprising, in combination, an operatingmember and an electrically operable driving member reciprocable inface-to-face relationship between two positions along parallel paths'and independently biased in the same direction, a latch having astationary pivot and being arranged for holding said operating member inthe position opposite said didection, coupling means disposed on saidoperating member for causing said driving memher to entrain saidoperating member when operated against its bias, and control meansmovably disposed on said driving member and biased towards engagementwith said coupling means and latch means respectively depending uponwhether said operating member is in said one and said other positionrespectively so as to release said latch and coupling means uponsubsequent operation of said driving member against its bias to permitsaid operating member to move in said direction independently of saiddriving member.

6. An electromagnetic device comprising, in combination, a flat-facedoperating member and an electrically operated flat-iaced driving memberreciprocable in face-to-face relationship between two positions alongrectilinear and parallel paths and independently biased in the samedirection, said operatingmember having a cam element, a latch having astationary pivot and being arranged for engaging said element in orderto hold said operating member in the position opposite said direction, acoupling element movably mounted on said driving member for engagingsaid cam element so as to entrain said operating member when saiddriving member is operated against its bias, said coupling element beingarranged to release said latch upon subsequent operation of said drivingmember against its bias for permitting said operating member to move insaid direction.

7. An electromagnetic device comprising, in combination, a magneticallyoperated armature and an operating member arranged in face-tofacerelation, reciprocable along each other between two position and biasedtowards one of said positions, said operating member having a camelement near its end facing said other position, a latch having a fixedpivot and being biased towards said cam element tor engaging it in orderto hold said member in said other position, said cam element having aguiding surface inclined relatively to the path of motion of said memberand forming a stop at the side of said surface away from said latch, andmeans mounted on said armatur for engaging said surface and biasedtowards said latch, whereby, when said armature is first operatedagainst its bias, said means are guided by said surface to engage saidstop for entraining said member into latched position and, when saidarmature is subsequently operated against its bias, said means engagesaid latch for releasing said member.

8. An electromagnetic device comprising, in combination, a solenoidhaving a vertical bore, a magnetic armature and a non-magnetic operatingmember reciprocable along each other in said bore and biased downwardly,said operating member having a cam element near its upper end, a latchin said bore having a fixed pivot and being biased towards said camelement for engaging it in order to hold said member in lifted position,said cam element having a cam surface inclined downwardly towards saidlatch and forming a stop at its upper end, a lifting member mounted onsaid armature for engaging said surface and being biased towards saidlatch, whereby said armature when first lifted by said solenoid causessaid lii member to engage said stop for lifting said operating memberinto latched position and when subsequently liited by said solenoid tocause said lifting member to for releasing aid operating member.

9. An electromagnetic device comprising, in combination, a solenoid, amagnetic armature and a non-magnetic Operating member reciprocablewithin said solenoid in parallel to each other between two positions andbiased towards one of said positions, latch means arranged in saidsolenoid for holding said member in said other. position, and control,means movably mounted on said armature and biased towards engagementwith said member and said latch respectively depending upon whether saidmember is in said one and said other position respectively forentraining said member when said armature is first moved by saidsolenoid against its bias and for releasing said latch means when saidarmature is subsequently moved by said solenoid.

10. An electromagnetic device comprising, in combination, a nonmagneticoperating member reciprocable between two positions along a 20rectilinear path and biased towards one of said positions, releasablelatch means for holding said member in said other position, amagnetically operable armature reciprocable in parallel to said path andbiased towards said one position.

coupling means on said member, and control -is released upon subsequentoperation of said armature against its bias to then permit said memberto move under its bias independently of said armature.

FERDINAND C. IGLEHART.

